The
life which this narrative depicts began August 31, 1860, and closed
March 31, 1909, and throughout that entire period was identified with
the city of Sacramento. The earliest experiences of the child were
associated with this then straggling and unimportant city. Here the boy
passed through the grammar and high schools and here' he entered upon
the task of earning a livelihood. Here, too, when destiny called him
into eternity, he closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth while still
in the prime of manhood, when it might not have been unreasonable for
him to anticipate many further years of industrious application to his
chosen work. It is to such intelligent and industrious citizens as Mr.
Kestler that the city owes its high standing, growing prosperity and
substantial development, and as a native-born son and lifelong resident
his name is entitled to perpetuation in local annals. While in his youth
and immediately after leaving school he acquired a thorough knowledge of
the trade of wagon-maker, which he followed afterward, working with his
father for many years and eventually acquiring a business of his own.
The death of his father, Martin Kestler, the pioneer carriage maker of
Sacramento, occurred prior to his own demise, but his mother still
survives and continues to make Sacramento her home. On the organization
of the Oak Park Lodge of the Odd Fellows he became a charter member and
his active connection with that society continued unbroken until his
death, besides which he also held membership with the tribe of Ben Hur
in his home city. In politics he voted with the Republican party, but
took no part in partisan affairs and at no time solicited official
honors, preferring to enjoy in Ms home and among Ms friends such leisure
as the activities of business allowed him. Every movement for the
advancement of the city and county received his support and he belonged
to that class of public-spirited citizens whose quiet but positive
identification with righteous and progressive principles makes for the
upbuilding of a community.

Surviving
Mr. Kestler is the lady who from their union in 1888 until his death
remained his devoted wife, wise counselor and capable assistant, and who
since his demise has managed the affairs of the estate judiciously,
meanwhile continuing her residence at No. 2608 S street. Mrs. Kestler,
formerly Miss Minnie M. Steadman. was born in Hudson, Ky., and was
reared at Laporte, Ind., being a daughter of Arthur H. and Adeline
(Dean) Steadman, natives, respectively, of England and Kentucky.
Deprived of parental care by the death of both her father and her mother
when she was yet very young, she made her home with friends in girlhood
in Indi- ana and received a common-school education and later at
Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso. Since the year 1887 she has been
a resident of California. The early loss of her parents was not the only
bereavement she was called upon to bear, for an even greater blow came
in the death of her devoted husband, and the shock of the bereavement
was doubled by the loss on the very same day of their only son. Father
and child passed away within aii hour of each other and were interred in
adjoining graves. The son, Harold D., a lad of unusual intelligence, was
born in 1896, and at the time of his death was twelve years and seven
months old. As a pupil in the grammar school he not only won the
friendship of all associates, but also established a record for
scholarship and rapid progress in his studies.

Source:
History of Sacramento County, California
Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who
Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
History By: William L. Willis
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California (1913)